Nesting Material
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:38 pm
What is the best nesting material to us ? Do you put this in the box or let them make their own nest ?
The best material I've used are the untreated pine shavings. I would fill up the nest box half or one third of the way (depending on what the bird preferred) and pack it down with my fist. The mother would normally dig around and kick some of the shavings out, whatever made her happy until it was "just right". During incubation the mothers seem to enjoy nibbling on the pine shavings, making itty bitty pieces of them.
I never bred IRNs but worked with meyers, senegals, greys, and lovebirds; (all african species) I would use the same technique with most parrots.